Contact your SA MP

Engage with your local candidate this election and help the next South Australian Government deliver a plan for stronger stroke care.

You can help make SA great!

The next South Australian Government has an opportunity to deliver a stronger plan for stroke care and vastly improve access to stroke treatment and support in our state so more patients survive, avoid disability and recover.

The Stroke Foundation is calling on the next South Australian Government to commit to action that will save lives and we need your help.

We are louder together.

Why is it important?

#fightstroke advocates are essential to raising the profile of stroke in the community and Government. You are essential to creating the change needed to prevent, treat and beat stroke!

Remember, candidates are running to represent you. They want to hear from you.

How to be heard?

There are several ways to have your say in the lead up to the March 17 election:

Do one or all of the above, the most important thing is to take advantage of this occasion to have your say and ask what your candidates will do for stroke. No matter which method you use always remain polite and impartial.

Below is a guide to assist in making contact. Remember candidates are vying to represent you, they want to know the issues important to you and how best they can make a difference in the community.

If you have questions about below, have a great idea to make contact with a candidate but aren’t quite sure about it or just need a little extra help, get in touch with the Stroke Foundation team.

Nominations for the election still open, a list of current candidates can be found here.

Further details of new candidates will be available soon.

Campaign Door-knocking

Political candidates are everywhere during the election. You might see them at the local supermarket, at the community centre, they may even come to your door. This is a great opportunity to raise the issue of stroke in South Australia.

Remember that your candidate wants to represent you, they want to know what is important to you.

If they come knocking be prepared, have a few notes with you or our South Australia Election Platform. Don’t be afraid to tell your story and how you’ve been impacted by stroke.

Social Media

Social media allows you to connect with your politicians in a short informal way. It is quick, timely and issues an immediate alert.

Find your MP on Facebook or Twitter and keep an eye on what they’re posting. If they mention health related issues, that’s a good opportunity to send a message.

Use social media to call on your MP to take action on stroke care in South Australia, remember that it’s a short form of communication so keep to your key point.

Attend a local community event and ask your candidates a question

Candidates are everywhere during election periods. It is likely there will be a local community forum near you. Forums are designed to enable community members to speak directly to candidates and provide candidates an opportunity to speak directly to the community.

Pop along and have your say.

Begin by:

Find out who your local member is and which party candidates are running in this year’s 2018 South Australian State Election. Please click here to find out all candidates details.

Find out where and when a local community forum is taking place. This may be advertised on the local neighbourhood notice board outside a shopping centre, on the Eventbrite webpage, in the local paper or on a candidates Facebook page.

Don’t worry, if you are having trouble finding the forum near you. Contact the Stroke Foundation team and we can help: fightstroke@strokefoundation.org.au or call 03 9670 1000.

Go along and ask a question.

For example,

My name is [Insert name], and I am a stroke survivor. What is your party doing on [Insert question]

‘Raising awareness of the signs of stroke and ensuring every household in South Australia know what FAST stands for?’

‘Ensuring all South Australians have access to time critical treatment?’

‘Investing in improving stroke treatment and care?’

Organise a meeting

Phone or email your local candidate to request a meeting. Keep in mind election periods are hectic and candidates are busy people. Even if you don’t get the meeting your request is noted and helps raise awareness of stroke in the community.

Send them an email like this:

Subject: Meeting request: A plan for stronger stroke care

Dear [Name],

I am a local [electorate/suburb] resident and I am writing to ask your party’s plan to address stroke in South Australia? As a voter I would like to meet and discuss the looming stroke challenge in our community. I am among those directly impacted by the devastation caused by this, largely preventable and treatable disease

This state election, I am joining with the Stroke Foundation in calling on the next South Australian Government to commit to action that will save lives. I understand Adelaide residents have access to some of the best time critical stroke treatments in the country, but those in regional areas have far worse outcomes. The next State Government has an opportunity to give all South Australians access to the best in stroke treatment and stronger stroke care.

Did you know, last year South Australians experienced over 4,000 strokes? Many of these strokes were experienced by people living in regional areas. In 2017 there were more than 39,000 stroke survivors in the community.

Stroke Foundations’ election platform outlines four modest proposals that if implemented will address known gaps in stroke care in South Australia. These include:

FAST community action to reduce stroke and speed up treatment.

South Australia Telestroke Network and Endovascular Service.

South Australian Stroke Patient Follow Up service.

Better quality stroke treatment and the establishment of a ‘community of practice’.

What are you and your party doing to address stroke?

Kind regards,

[Insert your full name

Insert your address

Insert your phone number]

Letter / Email Tips:

Please consider personalising the text we have provided to you

If you've been touched by stroke personally include a reference to that in the email, if a particular element of the election platform is important to you, emphasise that.